Grand Theft Auto IV UK Hands-On

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Liberty City returns in the most intricate GTA yet.

By Martin Robinson

There's a definite air of confidence drifting through the corridors of Rockstar's West London offices. With the release of what may be the studio's most feverishly anticipated game nudging so tantalisingly close, it's slowly lifting the veil from its baby and seems quietly certain that in its hands is a sure-fire classic. After months of giddy speculation and a drip-feed of new information, only now is Rockstar finally allowing people to go hands-on with the fourth installment in what has fast become one of the biggest gaming series of all time. It's easy to see where the conviction comes from – from our extended time sat down with the game, it looks like Grand Theft Auto IV may go on to achieve the unthinkable and shake off the colossal expectations bearing down upon it to become this generation's definitive sandbox adventure.

The new cover system in full effect.

In the three-and-a-half year absence of a bespoke home console Grand Theft Auto, there has been a steady succession of pretenders to the free-roaming throne, but you sense they have just been merely warming the seat in anticipation of the king's return. There's a cocksure swagger to GTA IV, and it's hard not to swoon over the self-assured return of the sandbox king. From the litter on the streets to the planes that dot the sky, this is as well realised a game world as has been witnessed to date, and it's a marked progression in the world of sandbox play. Taking as its centerpiece the character that has always distinguished the series from its peers, Rockstar has distilled the humour and reined in the excesses of the last generation of GTA to deliver a punchier and more cohesive world.

In our extended hands-on we attempted five separate missions, whose completion was understandably somewhat hampered by our desire to create as much mischief on the streets of Liberty City as possible. Generally the missions on display didn't venture too far from the GTA formula, though of course what we saw was only the slightest of glimpses into what's sure to be a vast adventure, and most of what Rockstar showed was from the earlier stages of the game.

Jamaican Heat is the first mission laid out before us, an early tutorial a short way into the full GTA IV experience. Initiated in a cab rank with Niko's cousin Roman, who looks to loom large in the main thrust of the narrative, it's a gentle introduction to some of the newer features, as well as to the character of Little Jacob, who we are tasked with escorting to a drug deal.

Niko rocking the aviators.

Integration of menus and a tightened map system all help contribute to a more streamlined GTA experience. One of the first things to note when taking to the streets is the new radar, now complete with a more readily understandable key. Blue markers denote an item to be picked up, yellow markers a destination, and a red dot lets you know there's someone waiting to be slaughtered. A welcome addition is the GPS navigation system, which looks to become an invaluable tool when hot-footing it around Liberty City. Waypoints are shown as a green mark and we were told that the GPS system is completely law abiding – meaning that it won't send you careering headfirst into traffic down one-way streets. It's a nice fallibility to the feature, ensuring that while it will prove indisposable in location-scouting, it won't nanny players through the game, and that in some situations duty will dictate veering off the designated route in order to get to the destination quicker.

Having successfully navigated to Little Jacob's pad, it soon becomes clear that through a heavy intake of certain weeds and his reliance on treacle thick patois, he is near incomprehensible – to the point where we were helpfully advised to turn on the subtitles, which are a huge help in deciphering the man. Having taken his seat by our side, the car soon fills with smoke from Little Jacob's ever-present joint, which proceeds to billow out the windows as we career to our destination.